(CNN) – The escalation of violence in Syria can be directly tracked to the United States' unwillingness to get involved in the country, Sen. John McCain asserted Sunday.

"Because of our failure to assist, because of our failure to lead other willing nations in the region like Turkey and Saudi Arabia and Qatar and others, the situation has now deteriorated to a situation which is really, really very dangerous," McCain said on CNN's "State of the Union."
The Arizona Republican's comments came as fierce clashes erupted on Sunday between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebels in Aleppo, Syria's most populated city.

Opposition activists said an entire building collapsed in the city after being targeted by a tank belonging to al-Assad's regime. The latest violence comes after 16 months of bloodshed that began in March 2011, when a fierce government crackdown against protesters morphed into a nationwide uprising against the regime.

McCain, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Sunday that the situation in Syria could be remedied but that it would be unnecessarily difficult given the lack of action by President Barack Obama's administration.

"It is retrievable, but it is far, far more difficult and complicated than if we had weighed in a long time ago," he told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley.

McCain said Obama and his administration have "relied on the goodwill of Russia" in their dealings with Syria, calling that approach "shameful."

"We keep pushing the reset button that Russia and China - and now we are bound by the decisions of the U.N. Security Council which are dictated by Russia and China," he said. "We need to get arms and equipment to them and establish a buffer zone."

soundoff(172 Responses)

Robert Schiele

As usual these days, Senator McCain is full of hot air. Most Americans (at least non-Muslim Americans) couldn't care less which group of savages ends up tyrannizing the others in Syria. That whole conflict isn't worth a single drop of American blood or a single U.S. tax dollar.

July 22, 2012 11:08 am at 11:08 am |

ge

maybe he should worry more about violence in the united states–this guy wants to police every country on the planet,then scream americas broke-wonder why

July 22, 2012 11:15 am at 11:15 am |

Anonymous

shut up old man screams at sky. we are financing 2 wars already!

July 22, 2012 11:21 am at 11:21 am |

Jrepublican

How about McCain's shorta$$ arms are shameful.

July 22, 2012 11:23 am at 11:23 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Hey McCain, you lost! STFU you bitter little twit.

July 22, 2012 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Willard

Time to retire!

July 22, 2012 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

Danahk10Name

wull.we arm them and then have the.weapons used against us in the future?whats tbe difference.between fast an furious. Both stupid

July 22, 2012 11:30 am at 11:30 am |

vic , nashville ,tn

No one helped us when we were fighting for our freedom we build our nation #1 in the world
Mahatma Gandhi fight freedom for India, today India is largest democracy in the world with less violent
We freed Iraqis and Afghanis it’s not working
Mc Cain freedom never comes with out cost

July 22, 2012 11:32 am at 11:32 am |

GI Joe

That man never saw a fight he didn't want to send OUR kids into. Crazy old fool. Go home to Ariz. and chat with your BFF Sara Failin.

July 22, 2012 11:35 am at 11:35 am |

Pete

Here's your supposid hero again wanting to police everywhere ,he's not involved anymore in the military so why does he care..He's against the cuts in military spending even thou the president is getting our troops home and we should really be looking at ways here to help who's coming back instead of always getting involved in everybodies else's business..These chicken hawks would think differently if their own kin were over there I promise you,but they always protect their own,sending them overseas like Romney to school,made up health ailments like Limbaugh or deferments like a lot of your so called military experts in Gingrich.So please quit being so sanctumonious when its you republicans who are always creating these wars just for your political,military bred egos with innocent people lives,make an example with your family first ,sign them up,I doubt you ever will, typical republican hypocrites!!

July 22, 2012 11:36 am at 11:36 am |

korkea aika

From John McCain the guy who said he would stay in IRAQ 100 YEARS, now wants to sling mud at Obama who can't win for losing. If OBAMA spends $$$ on AMERICANS to assist with out of control Heath Care costs, then OBAMA is a SOCIALIST. If OBAMA disengages in IRAQ, he is weak. If he guides Libyans to victory, it was luck. If he arms Syrian rebels, its too little. There is no pleasing the party of NO. I think McCain war monger should retire with G W BUSH, AMERICAN's GREATEST ORPHAN MAKER. Mission Accomplished forever

July 22, 2012 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

Donkey Party

What is shameful and disgusting, is McCain's assertion that the escalation in violence in Syria is President Obama's fault. First of all, Syria is NOT an ally, Syria IS ALLIED with Iran, it is NOT our responsibility to be the world's police, and most importantly, according to Speaker Boner, WE'RE BROKE! Americans are sick and tired of the GOP's chickenhawk policies, and every effort they make is calculated to try and paint our President in a negative light, because they can't stand what a positive impact he's made in foreign relations. McCain is a disgrace to our country, and to the uniform he once wore. I'm ashamed and embarrassed he served in the same branch as me.

July 22, 2012 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

SafeJourney

McCain, why dont you ask Mitt to send his sons to syria

July 22, 2012 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

gg

syrians kill unarmed syrians–americans kill unarmed americans -he wants to protect the syrians,what you going to do about americans -john

July 22, 2012 11:44 am at 11:44 am |

Ted van Tol

Freedom comes with peace, not with arms.

July 22, 2012 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

nicolas ismael

that's exactly what i was talking about yesterday. going to risk more american life for rebels whose political ideology has not really identified. yes mccain, after such a risk, if obama listen to you, you will be the first one to critisize the president for not having experience. mr. maccain, you're a fighter while obama is a thinker. remember that usa did a lot of similar stupid things in the past with iran.iraq. afghanistan while paying expensive price. obama is head well done while you're a head fool of crazy military actions, military you are mcccain. thank god you didn't make it in 2008.
, then usa should already collapsed. john go to campaign for your guy caring only for his own pocket and 1% of the people in usa.

July 22, 2012 11:50 am at 11:50 am |

Kareen

What is shameful McCain is invading a country and claiming there are weapons of mass destruction when they don't have any and killing thousands.

July 22, 2012 11:54 am at 11:54 am |

Grahame Rhodes

Oh Really McCain.......Dah!!!!!!!!!! and please tell the American public what do you think Russia and China would do since they have stated they have a stake in Syria................Oh Really McCain! do you want to go to war with either Russia or China or both?
Grow up or retire. We will never forgive you for Palin anyway and you even said she was better qualified than Romney.....Please go to your room.

July 22, 2012 11:58 am at 11:58 am |

Marty, FL

Sen. McCain, Romney & other Neo-Cons want to continue policing the world instead of focusing on home.

The Syrian people appear to be handling their own country. President Obama made the right decision to work with our Russian allies on a more constructive approach.

July 22, 2012 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |

ThinkAgain

Dear Senator McCain,

Please name ONE Republican economic, military or foreign policy that is NOT a PROVEN FAILURE.

Sincerely yours,
A voting American with a working brain

* crickets *

July 22, 2012 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |

gee

A has-been still beating war drums. Hasn't this country learned yet from misguided outlooks of right wingers?

July 22, 2012 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |

Iran

UN CHARTER VII ARTICLE 51:
Provides for the right of countries to engage in military action in self-defense, including collective self-defense (i.e. under an alliance) FOR SYRIA AND IRAN IF ATTACKED.

July 22, 2012 12:09 pm at 12:09 pm |

basky

What's wrong with this old man. We have so much trouble here in America than what this old man is crying about.
Syria? Really? If America help them to succeed anyway, no matter what,they'll still hate us,so why worry. This man should stop talking about war and let's face our problems here at home, period!!!